Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
A former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief allegedly received a bribe to help dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and her siblings escape the country despite being under an immigration lookout bulletin.
This information was revealed during the Senate panel on women’s ongoing investigation into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) on Tuesday, when Senator Risa Hontiveros asked law enforcement officials if intelligence reports indicated that a high-ranking official received a P200 million bribe to facilitate the escape.
Dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo admitted signing the last page of her counter-affidavit on the human trafficking complaint filed against her by the Department of Justice before she fled the country.
The document in question was dated August 14, days after Guo escaped from Philippine jurisdiction on July 18.
The Senate inquiry into Alice Guo’s case took another turn on Tuesday as Sen. Risa Hontiveros revealed that five more businesses appear to be registered under the names of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Dong Calugay.
During the Senate panel on women’s hearing, Hontiveros pressed Calugay to admit whether he has business ties with Guo. However, the Pangasinan mayor denied the allegations.
A total of 157 Chinese vessels in various locations within the West Philippine Sea (WPS) were monitored by the Philippine Navy from September 10 to 16 this year.
This data shows a significant decrease compared to the 400 foreign ships – 85 percent from China — monitored last year.
PNP forms special teams to probe Quiboloy’s protectors, find Roque
Special composite and tracker teams have been formed to investigate those who sheltered alleged rapist Apollo Quiboloy and to locate former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The PNP announced that the teams will include Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) officials.